The Hellions

It is strange that most of the reviewers of this film who have given this a high score haven't seen it for over 30 years.If they get to watch it now they will be in for a shock.If it is a comedy western Richard Todd is in the wrong film.For some reason he allows the Hellions to humiliate him then disappears from the film till near the climax.Lionel Jeffrey's goes a bit over the top whilst James Booth seems to be rehearsing for his part in On The Double.Carry On Cowboy is a more authentic western and funnier.

I have been searching for this movie for many years. I first saw it when it was originally released and was more than impressed. Somehow the casting director put together a group of actors who had 'the right chemistry' and the film turned out to be exceptionally good. For Western lovers all the right ingredients are there (except for the quick draw) and the film builds to a tense climax. I really want to see this movie again and would love to add it to my collection. Lionel Jeffries is brilliant as Luke Billings!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The Hellions according to some might well be considered Great Britain's first western although I think The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw has a better claim. Ken Annakin better known for such Disney films with star Richard Todd like Robin Hood, The Sword And The Rose, and Rob Roy the Highland Rogue team together again for this film set in and shot in South Africa.

It's the post Boer War era in the Union Of South Africa and the place still has a frontier feel to it. A family of real bottom feeders, the Billings clan headed by Lionel Jeffries is coming to town to settle a score with the local constable Richard Todd. They're a lot like the Clantons from My Darling Clementine and the Cleggs from Wagonmaster from those John Ford classics.

In any event Todd who patrols the place unarmed gets his gun and wants some backup, but the town hesitates. Now he knows how Gary Cooper felt with those citizens of Hadleyville.

In the end however Todd gets some help from a most unlikely source a man just sick and tired of kowtowing to these killers who collectively are known as The Hellions.

Lionel Jeffries who usually plays comic village shows a savage side to him in The Hellions. Not something normally associated with him, but very good. Plaudits should also go to James Usys and Anne Aubrey as a husband and wife pair of storekeepers The Hellions intimidate.

Note the harmonica parts of the music score are from the blacklisted Larry Adler who was probably the only American associated with The Hellions. They were a nice touch.

As for the ending, think about the Frank Sinatra western Johnny Concho.

This film is being shown in England on the Talking Pictures TV channel this week. Not seen it as yet.....but I await.... eagerly!!

I recall seeing The Hellions on TV some 30 years ago (I think). It was like most of our Westerns, Hign Noon or My Darling Clementine best comes to mind. Yet it is different for it reminded me that there were other countries outside of the US that shared similar themes as our westerns. Richard Todd is good but a little wooden and unemotional. The brothers are weird but terrifying and so is Lionel Jefferies. The thing I recall with the greatest fondness are the opening lines of the theme song. "Here they come and may they soon be gone: Matthew, Jubal, Mark and Luke and John." Too bad the movie has not been shown for so long. Should be on DVD.